WATCH: Bad News: Antibacterial Wipes May Not Be As Effective As You Think

Bad news germaphobes, according to new research out of the UK, expensive antibacterial wipes and sprays may not do all that much to stop germs from spreading.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Dr. Clare Lanyon, a biomedical scientist from Northumbria University, said many consumers are wasting money on antibacterial wipes and sprays. According to Lanyon, common germs (like the flu) can replicate themselves in just 20 minutes, meaning they can quickly recolonize if even just one single cell is left over.

Instead, she recommended using bar soap, which has been found to be more effective at destroying bacteria due to common ingredients that excel at breaking down cell walls.

"Some bacteria can divide every 20 minutes so it doesn't take long for one cell to become one million cells—in fact it would only take around 6.6 hours," Lanyon told The Telegraph.

“If your kitchen is clean, don't be cracking out the antibacterials and wiping it down because it's an absolutely redundant exercise,” she continued. “The minute you walk around the kitchen you're shedding bacteria and fungi into the area again and it's just recolonizing."